Loose leaf binder



Oct. 24, 1939. c. H. LAW

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Original Filed Sept. 3, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 24, 1939. c. H; LAW 22,117,144

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Original Filed Sept. 3, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 24, 1939 2,177,144

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF BINDER Clare H. Law, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 3, 1935, Serial No. 39,050 Renewed August 16, 1939 9 Claims. (Cl. 129-17) My invention relates to loose leaf binders for Another object of my invention is to provide an record cards or sheets, and it is the object of my improved binder, the pa of which are 50 invention to provide an improved form and arstructed and related that a leaf on one set of rangement of parts by reason of which the entry p n s ay be t a sf ed f o e p s e of data on the cards or sheets shall be made as h r on o another h r y m v n he le f easy and convenient as possible either with the 0 the Other S Of p s t t e ack mem ers sheets kept in position in the binder or in case in e s d position, shifting one back e it is deemed desirable to remove the sheets from her longitudinally at ve to the other and movthe binder for typing the data thereon. It is one ns the a a the Set O o g fi st e of the objects of my invention to provide an img d by it with the back members in semi-closed proved arrangement of this type, in which the po t e e y v d t e e s y of a srecord sheets are mounted on two sets of prongs h ne ha f of the nde by hand as has been which overlap and are capable of withdrawal essa y he etofore. from each other by movement in opposite direct s another je of my invention to D O de tions about a common axis, by virtue of which a const uction of this type involv n outwardly easy and convenient access may be had to the projecting rib portions at pp a es of he record sheets while still in the binder and withbook binder y reason of h h t e use is out any releasing or opening of the binding a ed to g p e e vy b d r adva ta eously parts, by which more complete access may be o c y n t afforded to the record sheets by a partial opent s an t e O je of y invention to p v 20 ing of the binding parts but without releasing the v e of h s ype i s y de ai s hereinafter parts for the removal of the record sheets from pointed out. Th preferred means y Which I the prongs, and by which a complete opening may have accomplished my several objects are illusbe quickly and easily effected for the removal of trated in the drawings and are hereinafter sperecord sheets when desired. cifically described. That which I believe to be It is one of the objects of my invention to pronew and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set vide an improved arrangement of this type comorth in the claims. prising means for supporting the record sheets n t e d aw n firmly in substantially flat condition for making Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my improved entries thereon when the binder is opened only binder With a quote of record Sheets in position 30 to the extent of spreading back the stiff cover therein; members without any release of the binding Fi 2 is a cross sectional view through h d parts, for giving the record sheets a firm and stavice of Fig. 1 taken upo a e a ale a ble support in substantially fiat condition with the line 22 of Fig. l but with the record sheets the binding parts in half opened position, and for e o ed;

providing suitable support for the record sheets g- 3 is a Cross sectional VieW taken at ine so as to avoid any likelihood of accidental dis- 33 of Fig. 2; placement of the record sheets from the prongs Fig. 4 is a cr s sectional vi w ken a line when the prongs are completely opened up for 44 of Fig. 3; the removal of record sheets therefrom. Figs. 5 and 6 are end views of the book or 40 It is a further object of my invention to probinder in alternative positions, portions of the vide a binder so constructed that the hingedly structure being broken away; connected back members carrying the prongs on Fig. '7 is a view more or less similar to Figs. 5 which the leaves are impaled will be balanced in and 6 but showing the binding parts in their any position they may be placed between substanhalf opened and unlocked position, the parts betially half open and fully open whereby the ing in section as shown at line of Fig. 2; prongs may be separated, a leaf temporarily re- Fig. 8 is a view more or less similar to Fig. 7 moved for machine posting and returned to its but showing the binding parts completely opened position in the hinder, the prongs brought into up, the parts being in section as shown at line overlapping relation for transferring leaves from 88 of Fig. 2; and 50 one set of prongs to the other to get at another Fig. 9 is a face view of a fragmentary portion leaf for removal and posting, all without raising of the binder in the condition as shown in Fig. 8, one half of the binder with respect to the other a changed position of certain of the parts being or manipulating the means employed for locking indicated by dotted lines.

the parts in leaf-binding relation. Referring now to the several figures of the 65 drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, I5 and E6 indicate back members each in the form of a Z-bar, said members being pivotally connected together along their adjacent edges, as is clearly shown in Fig. 7. Upon the outer face of the outer flange of each of the Z-bars l5 and I6, I have secured an angle bar H, the outer flange of which is in face contact with the outer flange of the Z-bar, the inner flange of the angle bar being in triangular relation to the connecting web and the inner flange portions of the Z-bar. Upon the inner flange of each of the angle bars, I have provided a heavy strip I8 of fiber, in position to act as base supports for the back members, the members I8 in the arrangement shown being extended outwardly some little distance so as to serve as extensions for the inner flange portions of the angle bars. In the arrangement shown, the outer edges of the fiber strips !8 are turned into angular position and extend into close proximity to the outer edges of the Z-bars. In the arrangement shown, the fiber strips i8 are held in position by means of rivets [9, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Upon the outer edges of the outer flange portions of the angle bars l1 respectively, I have pivotally mounted stifi cover members 20, the inner edges of which are thus supported firmly 3 in raised position with respect to the flat surface upon which the binder lies loosely as shown in said Fig. '7. Upon the outer flange of each of the Z-bars, I have mounted a plate 2| provided with a set of prongs 22 curved concentrically :about the axis upon which the bars I5 and i6 are pivotally connected together, the prongs being so positioned and being of such length that the prongs of one series overlap the prongs of the other series at their endportions when the parts 3 are lying loosely in position upon a flat surface as shown in said Fig. '7, with the base plate portions !8 in alignment with each other at opposite sides of the axis on which said back members are pivotally connected.

Upon the prongs 22 of each series, the user may mount a series of record cards, leaves or sheets 23, such sheets being provided with spaced openings 24 as shown in Fig. 9 in position to engage the prongs 22 in the well understood ;manner. For the insertion of such record sheets in position upon the prongs, the back members may be buckled inwardly as shown in Fig. 8 so as to bring the prongs 22 into as nearly as possible vertical position. After the desired number of 1 record sheets have been inserted or removed, the

back members may be again straightened out into the position as shown in Fig. 7, in which position the record sheets or cards are supported firmly in substantially fiat condition, the axis 60 upon which the stiff cover member 25 is connected with the back member being positioned directly above the flat base member l8.

For locking the binding means together so as to prevent withdrawal of record sheets, I have provided latch members 25 and 25 at opposite end portions of the device, as is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, such latch members being rigidly mounted upon the Z-bar 95 by welding or otherwise. In cooperative relation upon the back member I5 I ,have provided a latching bar 2'! which is held slidably in position by means of a pair of brackets 28. As is clearly shown in the drawings, the latching bar 2? is provided with a turned thumb piece 29 at one end by which the bar is 'movable longitudinally for disengagement from the latch members 25 and 26. A coiled spring 30 connected with the bar 2! at one end and with the angle bar I! at its opposite end serves normally to hold the latching bar 29 in position to engage the latch members 25 and 26. The arrangement is such that when the back member shown at the right in Fig. '7 is moved in counter-clockwise direction in said figure with respect to the back member at the left, the latch members 25 and 26 pass into operative engagement with the latching bar 27 for holding the back members releasably in the position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Under such conditions, the prongs 22 of one series overlap the prongs 22 of the other series throughout substantially their full length, the inner flange por tions of the Z-bars being in face engagement with each other. With the parts latched together as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, either one of the back members may be supported flat upon a flat surface, with the other back member in raised angular position. Under such circumstances, the record sheets supported by the lowerpositioned back member are supported firmly in substantially flat position, while the record sheets resting upon the angularly positioned back member are given a comparatively firm support by reason of the fact that the pivotal connection between the Z-bar and the corresponding cover member 20 is substantially directly above the pivotal connection betwen the two Z-bars.

As is best shown in Fig. 3, a limited amount of play is provided at a plurality of points 3| in the hinging connection between the Z-bars l5 and I6 whereby the Z-bar I5 is adapted to be moved longitudinally with respect to the Z-bar l6 when the parts are in half opened position as shown in Fig. '7. By reason of this arrangement, a highly desirable shifting of position of record sheets is possible in a manner well understood by those familiar with the art. The portion of the binder at the left in Fig. 9 is shown by dotted lines in shifted position.

At opposite ends of the device, end closure plates 32 are provided serving to close the space between the separated flanges of the Z-bar and the angle bar.

By the use of my improved construction, a very efiicient and very convenient arrangement is provided. With the binder open in the position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the record sheets are supported substantially flat and held firmly in position for the entry of data thereon close to the inner edges of the sheets if desired. When desired, pressure may be applied upon the thumb piece 29 for releasing the latching means, whereupon the book is readily moved to its half open position as shown in Fig. '7, in which more complete access is had to the record sheets, and in which position the sheets at both sides of the binder are supported firmly in substantially flat position. The support for the filler leaves 23 through the'medium of the stifi" cover members 20 is very effective in the position of the parts as shown in said Fig. '7 in spite of the fact that the inner edge portions of the cover members and the filler leaves are in elevated position with respect to the surface on which the back members are resting, this result being attained by reason of the fact that the base portions of the prongs and the axes on which the cover members are pivotally connected with the back members are located, in that arrangement of the parts, at substantially the same distance from the base planes of the base plate portions upon which the back members are resting. When it is desired to move the parts from the position as shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8, this can be effected readily and quickly by the application of power directly to the prongs 22. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, the parts are supported in comparatively very stable condition, the shoulders or ribs provided by the angular base supports i8 being located underneath the back members so as to afford satisfactory support therefor without any substantial tendency for the parts to return to the position shown in Fig. 7. At the same time, the parts are very easily and quickly returned to the position as shown in Fig. 7 when desired, the fulcrums provided by the base supports i8 being adapted to slide outwardly so as to return the parts to their Fig. '7 position upon the application of slight pressure inwardly upon the prongs 22.

From the standpoint of hand posting, machine .posting, or the shifting of the position of one or more leaves in the binder occasioned by the insertion of an additional leaf for a new account or the removal of a leaf pertaining to a closed account, a binder embodying the principles of 'my invention is a great improvement over binders heretofore in use. The parts of my improved binder are so constructed and are so related to each other that they are in a stable or balanced condition in any position of the binder between $1 substantially half open and fully open. As shown in Fig. 7, the leaves on'each side of the binder rest upon a substantially horizontal support and in a flat condition so that hand posting may be conveniently carried out. With the parts as :lshown in Fig. 8 it is obvious that a leaf may be easily removed for machine posting and replaced. When it is desired to remove a sheet below several others for machine posting or any other reason, the back members may be readily rocked so that ,Lthe leaves on top of the one desired may be transferred to the opposite set of prongs, the prongs separated, the leaf removed and reinserted with but slight effort because the parts, during all such operations, remain in a balanced condition. The

:operation of providing a place in a series of leaves for an additional leaf carrying a new account for example, or that of removing a leaf of a closed account for example from a position in a' series of leaves and then bringing the remainrzing leaves in regular progressively spaced relation are easily carried out with my improved binder due to the convenience and ease with which the balanced back members of my binder may be shifted and rocked relative to each other.

By the use of the angularly formed base supports l8 at opposite faces of the binder, as shown in Fig. l, I have provided ready means for grasping the binder firmly for carrying it.

While I have shown my improvements applied to a visible records type of construction, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to that type of structure except as the same may be specifically claimed.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of two back members comprising flange portions and intermediate web portions connected together substantially in the form of Z-bars pivotally connected together along adjacent edges T so as to permit the inner flange portions to abut against each other, a set of prongs mounted on the outer flange portion of each of said back members. curved concentrically about the axis upon which said back members are connected 7 together with the two sets of prongs overlapping each other at their free ends when said back members are resting loosely upon a flat surface and overlapping each other through a substantially increased portion of their length when said Z-bars are buckled for bringing the inner flange portions together, stiff cover members pivotally connected with the outer flange portions of said back members respectively, a supporting base member connected with each of said Z-bars in triangular relation to the inner flange portion and the intermediate web portion and extending outwardly into position beneath the outer edge of the Z-bar so as to provide support for the adjacent cover member in raised position, and means for holding said back members releasably in their said buckled positionwith respect to each other.

2. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of two back members comprising flange and web portions connected together substantially in the form of Z-bars pivotally connected together along adjacent edges so as to permit the inner flange portions to abut against each other, an angle bar connected with the outer flange portion of each of said Z-bars and having its inner flange extending in triangular relation to the inner flange portion and the intermediate web portion of the Z-bar, a supporting plate connected with the inner flange portion of each of said angle bars and extending outwardly 1n the same plane to a point substantially opposite the outer edge of the Z-bar so as to provide comparatively broad supporting base portions for said back members, and a set of prongs mounted on the outer flange portion of each of said Z-bars and curved concentrically about the axis upon which said back members are connected together and overlapping each other at their free ends when said back members are resting loosely on a flat surface.

3. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of two back members comprising flange and web portions connected together substantially in the form of Z-bars pivotally connected together along adjacent edges so as to permit the inner flange portions to abut against each other, an angle bar connected with the outer flange portion of each of said Z-bars and having its inner flange extending in triangular relation to the inner flange portion and the intermediate web of the Z-bar, a supporting plate connected with the inner flange portion of each of said angle bars and extending outwardly in the same plane to a point substantially opposite the outer edge of the Z-bar so as to provide comparatively broad supporting base portions for said back members, stiff cover members pivotally connected with the outer flange portions of said angle bars respectively so as to be supported firmly in substantially raised position with respect to the surface upon which said back members are resting loosely, a set of prongs mounted on the outer flange portion of each of said Z-bars and curved concentrically about the axis upon which said back members are connected together and overlapping each other at their free ends when said back members are resting loosely on a flat surface, and means for holding said back members releasably in buckled condition with respect to each other with said prongs overlapping throughout substantially their full length.

4. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of two back members pivotally connected together along their adjacent edges, latch means for holding said back members releasably in buckled angular position with respect to each other in such angular relation that when one of the back members is resting firmly on a flat surface the other back member is held in raised angular position, stiff cover members pivotally connected with the outer edges of said back members reupon which said back members are connected together in such position that the prongs of one series overlap the prongs of the other series at their end portions When said holding means is released and overlap said prongs of the other series throughout the greater portions of their length when said back members are latched in their buckled condition, and rib portions extending outwardly at the back beyond the faces of said stiff cover members for enabling the user to grasp the binder effectively for carrying it.

5. In a loose leaf binder of the type in which entries may be posted on its leaves when the binder is open on a flat support such as a desk, the combination of two back members hingedly connected along their inner or adjacent edges, covers hingedly connected to the outer edges of the respective back members, means for locking the back members in closed or leaf-binding relation, a set of curved leaf impaling prongs carried by each of said back members, the free ends of one set of prongs overlapping the free ends of rthe other set of prongs When the back members are in substantially half opened or closed relation, said back members having means nonswingingly attached thereto adjacent their pivotal connections with said covers serving as bearings on which the respective back members when unlocked may rock when the binder is open on a flat support, the prongs on each back member extending therefrom adjacent the hinged connection with its cover with the bases of the prongs :positioned substantially directly over said bearings when the back members are in substantially fully opened position, the prongs being so disposed that when the binder is in substantially half open position the bases of the prongs are in substantially horizontal alignment with the inside surfaces of the respective covers whereby leaves impaled on the prongs and piled on the inner 7 sides of the respective cover members are supported in substantially fiat condition.

6. In a loose leaf binder of the type in which entries may be posted on its leaves when the binder is open on a flat support such as a desk, the combination of two back members hingedly connected along their inner or adjacent edges, covers hingedly connected to the outer edges of the respective back members, means for locking the back members in closed or leaf-binding relation, a set of curved leaf impaling prongs carried by each of said back members, the free ends of one set of prongs overlapping the free ends of the other set of prongs when the back members are in substantially half opened or closed relation, supporting elements non-swingingly attached to said respective back members and having portions adjacent the pivotal connections of the covers with the back members serving as bearings on which the respective back members when unlocked may rock when the binder is open on a flat support, the prongs on each back member extending therefrom adjacent the hinged connection with its cover with the bases of the prongs positioned substantially directly over said bearings when the back members are in substantially fully opened position, the prongs being so disposed that when the binder is in substantially half open position the bases of the prongs are in substantially horizontal alignment with the inside surfaces of the respective covers whereby leaves impaled on the prongs and piled ing and replaced, the combination of two back members hingedly connected along their inner or adjacent edges, covers hingedly connected to the outer edges of the respective back members, means for locking the back members in closed or leaf-binding relation, a set of curved leaf impaling prongs carried by each of said back members, the free ends of one set of prongs overlapping the free ends of the other set of prongs when the back members are in substantially half opened or closed relation, said back members having means non-swingingly attached'thereto adjacent their pivotal connections with said covers serving as bearings on which the respective back members when unlocked may rock when the binder is open on a fiat support, said parts being so arranged that when the back members are free of said locking meansthey are balanced in any position they may be placed between substantially half open and fully open.

8. In a loose leaf binder of the type in which its leaves may be readily removed for machine posting and replaced, the combination of two back members hingedly connected along their in-- nor or adjacent edges, covers hingedly connected to the outer edges of the respective back members, means for locking the back members in closed or leaf-binding relation, a set of curvedv leaf impaling prongs carried by each of said back members, the free ends of one set of prongs overadjacent their pivotal connections with said covers serving as bearings on which the respective back members when unlocked may rock when the binder is open on a flat support, the prongs on each back member extending therefrom ad jacent the hinge connection with its cover with the bases of the prongs positioned substantially directly over the bearings on which the respective back members rock when the back members are in substantially fully opened position whereby when the back members'are free of said locking means they are balanced in any position they may be placed between substantially half open and fully open.

9. In a loose leaf binder of the type in Which its leaves may be readily removed for machine posting and replaced, the combination of two back members hingedly connected along their inner or adjacent edges, covers hingedly connected to the outer edges of the respective back members, means for locking the backmembers' in closed or leaf-binding relation, a set of curved leaf-impaling prongs carried by each of said back members, the free ends of one set of prongs overlapping the free ends of the other set of prongs when the back members are in substantially half opened or closed relation, supporting elements non-swingingly attached to said respective back members and having portions adjacent the pivotal connections of the covers with the back members serving as bearings on which the respective back members when unlocked may rock when the binder is open on a flat support, the prongs on each back member extending therefrom adjacent the hinge connection with its cover with the bases of the prongs positioned substantially directly over the bearings on which the respective back members rock when the back members are in substantially fully opened position whereby when the back members are free of said locking means they are balanced in any position they may be placed between substantially half open and fully open.

CLARE H. LAW. 

